‘Electricorp’s stance makes outlook bleak’

Press, 16 January 1988, Page 6

‘Electricorp’s stance makes outlook bleak’

By

RICHARD CRESSWELL,

industrial reporter If there was no marked change in Electricorp’s stance the outlook for the New Zealand public was bleak, said the National president of the Public Service Association, Mr Colin Hicks, yesterday. He said the association was under growing pressure from power workers to escalate the action. The North Island’s eight thermal power stations will shut down for the second time for 24 hours from midnight on February 2. The 24-hour strike by North Island workers from midnight on Wednesday did not affect the South Island. But on

Monday the P.S.A. will meet to consider further action and the notice by Twizel power workers to strike for 24 hours in two weeks.

Otago workers are also expected to meet next week to decide on whether to join their colleages. Monday’s meeting will consider the South Island hydro stations’ decision and whether to include them in the North Island action.

Mr Hicks said the P.S.A. had found no basis to Electricorp’s claims that it was willing to resume negotiations. There was little chance of a settlement unless the corporation amended its position.

He said informal contact with the corporation

had revealed no change to its offer. The P.S.A. is seeking a 10.5 per cent wage rise backdated to November 10, one document covering all workers, the same worker conditions and a willingness to negotiate changes once the wage round is settled, as well as two other conditions.

The corporation has offered 7 per cent and seven separate documents covering the corporation’s new areas.

Indefinite bans on overtime, call-outs within 24 hours and certain other work, begun on January 12, would continue. “Without a marked change in Electricorp’s attitude, without its recognition of the reasonableness of the association’s claim,

I regret to advise the New Zealand public that the prospects for this dispute are bleak,” said Mr Hicks.

The corporation said it would willingly enter formal negotiations when notice of industrial action was withdrawn.

Flexibility by the corporation on the pay rise should have been enough to stop the industrial action by the P.S.A. and allow talks to start again, the statement said.

The P.S.A.’s general secretary, Mr Colin Clark, said the association had given long notice of likely strike action. He said the association was disappointed no advantage was taken of that notice period to negotiate properly.